Answer this question truthfully
### Question: Why the Procedure is Performed?
### Response: A heart transplant may be done to treat:
Severe angina that can no longer be treated with medications or other surgeries Severe heart failure, when medicines, other treatments, and surgery no longer help Severe heart defects that were present at birth and cannot be fixed with surgery Life-threatening abnormal heartbeats or rhythms that do not respond to other treatments
Heart transplant surgery may NOT be used in patients who:
Are malnourished Are older than age 55 - 60 Have had a severe stroke or dementia Have had cancer Have HIV infection Have infections such as hepatitis that are active Have insulin-dependent diabetes and other organs that aren't working correctly Have kidney, lung, nerve, or liver disease Have no family support and do not follow their treatment Have other diseases that affect the blood vessels of the neck and leg Have pulmonary hypertension (thickening of blood vessels in the lung) Smoke or abuse alcohol or drugs, or have other lifestyle habits that may damage the new heart
The doctor may not recommend a heart transplant if the patient may not be able to keep up with the many hospital and doctor's office visits, tests, and medications needed to keep the new heart healthy.